I’m 37. Gaming since I got the NES at 5 years of age.
Upon reflection, Skyward Sword is my favourite Zelda.
When I played BOTW, I was in awe, adored it (still do), and it was my new no.1. Since playing it through 3 times, I’ve realised that, as others have said, it’s an incredible video game, just not an incredible Zelda game. I think that holds true. BOTW has wonderful exploration, and is its big selling point. But unlike most Zelda games, I never really had those big moments of “s#it yeah, look what I’ve just accomplished” after demolishing a dungeon. BOTW had no dungeons. The Divine Beasts should barely be in any dungeon discussions. It was a semi interesting twist, but a let down.
Personally, Twilight Princess is my lowest ranked 3D Zelda (but still great!). Kinda feels like many were clamouring for a grown up, adult-looking Zelda game, and lapped it up regardless. For me, it just felt like a more polished Ocarina of Time with a few more ideas. Enjoyable but a stopgap expansion.
Skyward Sword?
1) best story of the series.
2) best music of the series. The MUSIC. Go listen to the OST.
3) arguably some of the best dungeons of the series.
4) Motion controls: I genuinely enjoyed them and had no issues. Others did. I have a theory. By and large, younger generations are represented more online. Gets less and less the older you get. All the people who were children in 2011 probably DID have some trouble with the SS motion controls because it required some finesse and wasn’t simply a TP wagglefest. Those kids now have the largest voice online, 10 years later. While I know there are people my age and older that also had trouble...anecdotally, most of us around my age weren’t bothered by it?! A then 27yo adult isn’t going to have the same struggle as a 4-13yo. It often required patience...ie. not a kid thing.
5) That Impressionist art style tho... HANDS DOWN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you for listening to my TED Talk.
Comments 1
Re: Feature: The Exquisite Liminality Of Zelda: Skyward Sword
I’m 37. Gaming since I got the NES at 5 years of age.
Upon reflection, Skyward Sword is my favourite Zelda.
When I played BOTW, I was in awe, adored it (still do), and it was my new no.1. Since playing it through 3 times, I’ve realised that, as others have said, it’s an incredible video game, just not an incredible Zelda game. I think that holds true. BOTW has wonderful exploration, and is its big selling point. But unlike most Zelda games, I never really had those big moments of “s#it yeah, look what I’ve just accomplished” after demolishing a dungeon. BOTW had no dungeons. The Divine Beasts should barely be in any dungeon discussions. It was a semi interesting twist, but a let down.
Personally, Twilight Princess is my lowest ranked 3D Zelda (but still great!). Kinda feels like many were clamouring for a grown up, adult-looking Zelda game, and lapped it up regardless. For me, it just felt like a more polished Ocarina of Time with a few more ideas. Enjoyable but a stopgap expansion.
Skyward Sword?
1) best story of the series.
2) best music of the series. The MUSIC. Go listen to the OST.
3) arguably some of the best dungeons of the series.
4) Motion controls: I genuinely enjoyed them and had no issues. Others did. I have a theory. By and large, younger generations are represented more online. Gets less and less the older you get. All the people who were children in 2011 probably DID have some trouble with the SS motion controls because it required some finesse and wasn’t simply a TP wagglefest. Those kids now have the largest voice online, 10 years later. While I know there are people my age and older that also had trouble...anecdotally, most of us around my age weren’t bothered by it?! A then 27yo adult isn’t going to have the same struggle as a 4-13yo. It often required patience...ie. not a kid thing.
5) That Impressionist art style tho... HANDS DOWN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you for listening to my TED Talk.